Means fob



sept. 16, 1947. R. H. HELSEL 2,427,602

MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY FEEDING AND PRINTING TICKETS Original Filed Jan. '7, 1941 -5vShee'os-Sheerl l Sept. 16, 1947. R, H HELSEL ELECTIVELY FEEDING AND PRINTING TICKETS MEANS FOR S 5 sheets-sheet 2 originalFiled Jian.l rv7, 1941 Rea/5m nun I I I I III A. nn .IIII u' Sept. 16, 1947. R. H. HELSEL v MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY FEEDING AND PRINTING TICKETS Original Filed Jan. '7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 i VVE/Vrai? rra/Wigs Reaal? 4Af. f/efz Sept. 16, 1947. R, H, HELSEL 'Y 2,427,602

MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY FEEDING AND PRINTING TICKETS Original Filed Jan. '7, 1941 5 Shee'cs-Sheel'l 4` ma@ 274 O PALACTJPALACE ocr /17 A 52 9g, N-f 3815/ 381s/ /T PALACE: FLACE PALACE l PALACE /v f 25 4//E F76. M. l@ ii@- Ffa/0.

PALACE. PALACE A E25 4//5 6 W/f/VESS.' 38154 l, 38,54 /lVVEA/l'/P )77 a fl 4 I 4 "2 MFM/Sys.

MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY FEDING AND PRINTING TICKETS Original Filed Jan. 7, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 waff/Ww? Patented Sept. 16, 1947 MEANS FR SELECTIVELY FEEDING AND PRINTING TICKETS Reuben ll-I. Helsel, Long Island City, N. Y., as-

signor to General Register Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Pennsylvania Original application January 7, 1941, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 6, 1942, Serial No. 433,627

(Cl. lOl-68) 8 Claims.

1 This invention relates to a ticket issuing machine, particularly adapted for the issuance of tickets for places of amusement.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 373,437, led January 7, 1941, now Patent No. 2,325,054, dated July 27, 1943.

It has been proposed for the purpose of providing a better check on the honesty of employees of theaters and the like, and to facilitate accounting, to identify each ticket issued as part of a group of tickets with the total number of tickets issued in the group. For example, if four tickets are issued simultaneously, each ticket, or, at any rate, each except the first ticket, should be marked with the number 4 or some equivalent identifying character. It has also been proposed that instead of issuing a group of rather readily separable tickets of the present type, there should be issued what is, in fact, onel ticket, comprising, however, a number of subtickets or unit areas not readily separable from each other, the entire ticket being severable along a weakened or perforated line extending lengthwise of the ticket and transverse to the various ,sub-tickets.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a machine for issuing tickets of the general type just indicated, identifying them with numbers or other characters indicative of the total issued in a single cycle of operation. The invention, however, is not solely adapted for the issue of tickets of the type described above, but may be used for printing matters upon tickets of conventional type.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved selecting means for the issue of one or more tickets or sub-tickets in a cycle of operation, depending upon depression of a selected key. This mechanism for determining the number of tickets or sub-tickets issued in a single cycle is interconnected with selective printing mechanism in accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improved feeding and ticket strip adjusting means designed to insure that the ticket strip is properly positioned in relationship to severing means at the time severing occurs.

These and other objects of the invention relating to details of construction and operation will be apparent from the following description, read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partially broken 2 away, of a ticket issuing unit embodying the improvements indicated above;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View viewing Vthe unit fromV the opposite side and showing particularly various elements located behind one of the side plates;

Figure 3 is a rear elevation of the unit with certain parts broken away to show details;

Figure 4 is a further fragmentary vertical section of the unit partially broken away in the lower right hand corner thereof to show a control means dependent upon the presence of supply strip;

Figure 5 is a front elevation showing certain details of the key controlling mechanism;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on a plane the trace of which is indicated at 6-6 in Figure 43 Figure 7 is a similar section taken on a plane the trace of which is indicated at 1-1 in Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a horizontal section illustrating in particular a group of cams determining the period of operation of the machine;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical section showing in particular details of a platen mechanism and the manner in which a printing unit is associated with it;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary section taken on the plane the trace of which is indicated at lll--i in Figure 9;

Figure 11 is a side elevation of a printing unit;

Figure 12 is a plan view of the printing unit;

Figure 13 is a face view of the printing unit looking toward the printing elements thereof;

Figure 14 is a vertical section through the printing unit;

Figure 15 is a perspective View of an adjustable printing element involved in said unit; and

Figure 16 is an elevation of a ticket adapted to Vbe issued by the improved machine.

A complete ticket issuing machine embodying the principles of the present invention comprises usually a plurality of separate units each adapted for the issue of tickets of a single denomination. These units are received in conventional fashion in a single casing and are adapted to be driven by a. single motor connected to a counter shaft provided with individual pinions for the various units into mesh with which pinions the driving gears of the various units move as they are placed in proper position within the casing. Since the case and counter shaft arrangement form no part of the present invention, it need not be described herein. The arrangement may be of ges/,coa

3 conventional type, as described, for example, in my Patent No, 2,097,485, dated November 2, 1937. The present inventions are embodied in each of the separate units and only one unit will be described in detail. v,

Each unit comprises a pair of side plates 2 and 4 and an intermediate plate 6 to serve as the principal supports for the various operating elements. Other bracket arrangements, crossbrackets, etc. are provided, as will be evident hereafter, but since they may take various convenient forms, they will not be -described in detail.

The machine comprises a set of'keys 8 which may, for example, and as disclosed, be five in number for the purpose of issuing one to ve tickets, sub-tickets or unit areas, in a single operation. Each of the keys 8 is provided with a shank I0, the various shanks being shaped 'to bring their lower portions in substantially a single vertical plane extending lengthwise of the unit. The cylindrical portions of the keys slide in circular openings in a transverse top plate I2, and the lower ends of the Shanks are guided in openings in a bracket I4.

Each of the shanks has extending laterally therefrom a pin I8 having limited movement within a corresponding vertical slot I9 in a bracket 28 secured to the-side plate 2 of the unit. Mounted on each ofthe pins is a rocking lever 20, each being normally urged by an individual spring 22 in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4. Each of the levers is provided with a forwardly and upwardly projecting upper end 24 overlapping, in a vertical direction, a corresponding step 26 provided on the bracket 28. The levers 520 are arrangedfas illustrated, in staggered relationship and have their lower ends extendingbetween spacer plates 44 which serve to' keep them separated and in proper lateral position.

The levers 20 extend downwardly through an opening in a lockingr plate 30 provided with a series of steps 32 adapted-toengage shoulders 3| on the levers -a s 'described"hereafter:v The plate is'engageable by the lower end Y34 cf a rocking lever 35 pivoted at -38 vand provided with a turned upper end 39 engageable by the operator to lock the machine. The plate-30vis mounted for forward and rearwardlmovement by reason of the provision thereon of la downwardly'directed flange 48 provided -with slots embracing pins 52Y carried bythe side plate-2 ofthe machine.

The levers 20 are provided with downwardly facing shoulders or steps 46 and with sloping edges 41 normally engaging the steps-32 of the plate 30, under the action of springs 22.

Corresponding to each of the levers `20 there is a lever 48 having-its forward end 50 projecting beneath the step 48' of its corresponding lever 20. These levers 48 project between the spacing plates 44 previouslyrmentioned and are pivoted on a common rod 52 extending across the machine. 'Ihe levers 48 have downwardly and rearwardly extending arms of equal length provided 'with notches 54 and sloping cam surfaces 56 adapted to cooperate with the turnedends 58 of a series of detentlevers 60 of which there is one for each of the levers '448.

Mounted also up'on the pin '52 is a yoke |52 having a at portion underlying all of the levers 48 and adapted to be engaged by them. A spring 64 normally urgesthis yoke 62 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2. The yoke is provided with an arm 86 engaged by an abutment 4 portion 68 of a lever 'l0 pivoted on a pin I2 and provided with a nose 'I3 adapted to engage a switch-controlling plate I4 secured to a transverse pin 'I5 pivoted in the frame. Each of the plates 14 is provided with an ear I8 arranged to extend laterally 'of the unit and overlap the corresponding plate 14 of the next unit; or, in the 'case of the last unit, the ear 13 engages the motor-controlling switch. This arrangement is identical with that illustrated and described in my Patent No. 2,103,720, dated December 28, 1937. It is suicient to mention herein that 4by reason of this interengagement of the switch controlling plates, the rocking of the yoke B2 in any unit by any of the keys thereof is effective to close the switch energizing the common driving motor.

To the upper end of the lever 'l0 is pivoted at a link 82 urged forwardly by a strong spring 84 connected between it and a fixed portion of the frame The connections of this link 'will be hereafter described.

The yoke 62 is provided with a depending arm 86 .with which cooperates a forwardly extending arm 88 carried -by a shaft 89 which also carries a depending lever il!) provided with a rounded end 92 engageable, under the action of spring 95, with the ticket supply strip S passing upwardly through the guide channel, indicated at 94, which guide channel is pivoted at its upper end at 95 so as to be movable for insertion of the ticket strip, as indicated hereafter. This guide channel is formed primarily of two spaced strips of metal between which the ticket stock passes.

The -yoke 62'is also provided with a rearwardly extending arm 98, which is adapted to be acted upon at Ya suitable time in the cycle of the machine by a cam |00, which forms one of a group of cams carried "by a hub secured to a gear |02 and rotatably mounted upon a xed transverse pin VI I4.

The various levers 80 previously mentioned are pivoted on a common transverse pin |04 and urged in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figures 2 and4 by means of individual springs UG vccirin'ectecl between them Vand -Xed portion of the frame. -Each 0f the levers' 60 is provided with-acam follower portion |88 which is normally spacedfrom an individual corresponding camV I 0. Thereis a cam IIB-corresponding to each of the leversfl60, and all of these cams have rises I |.6 located in the'same angular position relative to the gear |02. However, these cams terminate at differentV positions, indicated at IIB, the cam corre sponding to --the issue of one ticket having the greatest angular extent, the cam corresponding to the'issue `of two tickets having less angular extentfand so on, up to the cam controlling'the issue of'iive'tickets, which has the least extent. These various cams are spaced by discs ||2 betweenwhich the follower portions |08 of Ythe various levers project 'so as to be properly positionedv for cooperation with their respective cams.

'The hub of the group of cams just referred to 'also Vcarries a cam |20, as illustrated in Figure-2,1p'rovided with a drop |22.

On 'a transverse pin |26 is mounted a yoke |28 provided with four steps, illustrated at |30, arranged to engage the Yends |24 of the leve'rs 60, which are'operated in theissuing of two to ve'tickets. vThere is no step provided 'corresponding to the lever 88 which operates-in the issuing of a single ticket, its end |24 being inoperative. The yoke |28 is provided with a bell crank, one end of which, |32, carries a pin, |34, projecting laterally through the plate 6 for the purpose hereafter described. The other arm, |36 of the bell crank follows the cam |20, under the action of a spring urged member 328 engaging the pin |34.

On the pin |04, providing the pivot for the levers 60 is journalled a yoke member |42 embracing the gro-up of levers and provided with a plate |44, engageable by the levers under the adjustment afforded by a pair of screws |46, the plate being loosely held inside the transverse portion of the yoke by means o-f a screw |43 threaded into the plate and passing loosely through an opening in the yoke and pressed outwardly by a compression spring |45. The yoke |42 is provided with an upwardly extending arm |38 urged in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, by a weak spring |40 and supporting, on a pivot pin |48, a knurled feed roller or disc |58 to which is secured a pinion |52 meshing with a gear |54, to which is secured a cooperating knurled feed roller or disc 288 journalled on a fixed pin 289. rhe rollers |59 and 288 are arranged to pinch and feed the ticket strip passing upwardly through the guide 94, and for this purpose extend into slots in the plates forming the guide 94.

Returning to the connections of the link 82, that link is pivoted to a double-armed lever |56, which is mounted on a stud |58. One arm. of this lever is formed as a hook |60 adapted to be engaged by a pin |62 carried by a gear segment |64 pivoted at |65 to a gear |12 and urged outwardly by a spring |68 toward a position which, in operation, is limited by a pin |19 projecting from the gear |12 through an enlarged opening in the segment |64. The gear |12 is cut alway for a portion thereof, which is adapted to be bridged by the segment |64. In its inner position, this segment permits a gap in the continuity of the teeth, and consequently the teeth are out of mesh with the individual pinion |65 for the unit carried by the common counter shaft |61 for the several units. On the other hand, when the segment |64 is released, its teeth provide a continuous set with the teeth of gear |12, and meshing and proper drive will result. This clutching arrangement is not new in this particular machine, and its function and operation are the same as in my prior Patent 2,219,650, dated October 29, 1940. f

Mounted to rotate with the gear |12 is a cam |16 which, by engagement with the other arm |14 of the lever |56 serves to restore it to the position shown following its displacement in the cycle of operation. Also secured to and rotating with the gear |12 is a cam |18 provided with a notch |86 behind which there engages the rear end of a lever |82 pivoted at |83 to the frame and urged by a spring |84 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, The lever |82 has a turned forward end |86, which, in the stationary position of the machine, underlies the rear end of the switch vcontrolling plate 14. As will be pointed out hereafter, this lever serves to maintain the switch closed until the cycle is completed.

A pinwheel |88, provided with pins |99, is journalled in the frame of the machine in such fashion as to project the pins |90 through a slot in the ticket guide 94 and into engagement with the openings in the ticket strip feeding through the guide. The purpose of the movement of the guide 94 about its pivot 95 previously referred to is to permit the guide to be moved away from the pins so that they will not obstruct the feeding of the ticket strip through the guide in the initial threading of the machine. A spring 222 normally .furges the guide into the position illustrated in Figure 2. This spring 222 serves also to apply tension to another member, hereafter referred to.

A blade |9| urged by a spring |93 toward the pinwheel |88 serves by engagement behind the pins |99 to prevent any retrograde movement of the pinwheel. It yields readily to permit free forward movement of the pinwheel.

Secured to the shaft of the pinwheel |88 is a star wheel |92 having V-shaped notches therein corresponding in number to the pins |90. Secured also to the pinwheel shaft to rotate with it is a pinion |94 which, through intermediate gears |96 and |98 drives the pinion 208 of the counter 202. As will be pointed out hereafter, the pinwheel does not serve to drive the ticket strip, but is rotated by the feed of the ticket strip. Accordingly, the counter serves only to count the actual tickets issued by the machine.

Adapted to engage within the notches of the star wheel |92 is a roller 294 carried at the forward end of a lever 206 pivoted at 208 to a lever 2|0, which is mounted on a transverse pin 2|4 and is provided with a roller 2|6 arranged to be acted upon by a cam 2|2 rotating with the gear |12. The spring 222 heretofore referred to serves to urge the roller 2| 6 toward the cam 2|2.

To the link 206 is pivoted at 224 another link 228 provided with a slot 2 28 embracing a pin 288 carried by lever 2|0. The link 226 has a turned upper end 232 abutting, under the action of the spring 236, the lower end of a screw 234 threaded through the pin 2|4 and having its upper end extending to the top of the unit so as to be readily adjustable. As will be evident from Figure 1, the adjustment of the abutment screw 234 serves for the accurate positioning of the roller 284, in eect approximately aboutl pin 208 and hence for the accurate angular positioning of the star wheel |92, 'I'his adjustment is irnportant to insure that the proper portion of the ticket strip is presented to the severing knife at the time cutting takes place.

Rotating also with the gear |12 is the gear 238, which drives gear 240 and lthrough it a gear 242 provided with a hub 244. This last gear 242 drives the pinion |54, to which is secured the feed roller 288.

To the hub 244 of gear 242 is secured a disc 246 carrying on opposite faces thereof rollers 248 and 250, respectively, adapted t-o act upon the arms 252 and 254 of the knife operating lever 256 pivoted upon a transverse pin 258 and engaging at its upper end the movable knife 288. This knife 260 is urged downwardly by a spring 262 reacting between it and the lever 256 into proper engagement with the fixed blade 264 to effect proper cutting of the ticket strip fed through the guide 94.

The hufb 244 of the gear 242, which is journalled upon a fixed pin 268, carries a cam 266 adapted to engage a follower roller 261 carried by a plate 212, which is provided with guiding slots embracing pins 210, so that it may be moved by the action of cam 266 against the tension of spring 214 in an upward and forward direction transverse to ythe direction of extent of the upper portion of the guide 94. The plate 212 is provided with an outwardly turned flange 216 extending parallel toltheguide 94, outside of which flangev there isa plate218 loosely' mounted on the flange 216 'by means of a screw 230 threaded into the `plate 218 and looselypassing through anA opening in the'ange. A `spring-Ztl surrounding the screw serves to urge the plate 218 'rearwardly to a position determined by `a plurality of set screws 286, Which serve A-as'lim'iting stops. To theface ofthe plate`218 there is secured 'a platen material of leather or the like 282 having its end anchored in an arm 284 fixed to theplate 212. As Willbe pointed out hereafter, printing on the ticket stripis `effected by the action of cam 266'in forcing the backing platen material 282 against the ticket strip to press it in turn against fan inked ribbon backed by type.

Printing is eiected through themedium of a unit illustrated in detail in Figures 11 to 15. This unit comprises side `plates 290 Aand 292 serving as supports for the various operating parts of the unit. In cross-brackets 294 and 296 there is mounted a type carrying member 'or vspindle :298, which, as illustrated in Figure 15, contains spaced type groups or bands 300, 302, 304 and 306. All'four of these carry the numeral in axial-alignment. The groups 300, 302`and 304 carry the numeral 4V in axial alignment. The groups 300 and 302 carry thefnumeral 3 in axial alignment, and the group-300 additionally vincludes the numeral 2. The member'298 is provided at its upper end with a pinion308 meshing with a pinion 3|0 carried by a shaft 3|2 mounted parallel to the member 298. A spring y3 I4 normally urges the shaft -3l2 in a direction to cause the member 298 to move beyond the position'corresponding to the 'numeral 2 in printing position.

A pinion 3|6 secured to the lower portion of the shaft 3I2 is in mesh with a rack 320, suitably guided along th'e side plate 292 and -provided at its upper end with a pin 322 projecting into a slot 324 in a lever 326 pivoted at-328 to the plate 292. This lever 326 is the one previously referred to and illustrated in Figure 2 as engaging pin |34 of the lever |32. When the machine is in the rest position, theengagement of thelever 326 with pin |34 resultsin pulling the rack V320 in opposition to the spring 314 to cause'the type faces numbered 5 to be approximately in printing position. Actually, their position is slightly beyond the printing position, so that-a slight movement under the action of spring-3M causes them to reach proper printing position.

The upper end of the lever 326 engages -a pin 330- carried by the upper end of an `arm 332 -secured to a shaft 334, pivoted inthe plates'290 and 292. The shaft 334 carries-aA depending arm 336 to which is pivoted a pawl 338 urged into engagement with a ratchet wheel 1342 by means of a spring Y340 reacting between the pawl and a detent v341, also engaging the -teeth of -the ratchet 342 and pivoted freely on the rshaft 334. The ratchet 342 is jornalled upon a pin 343, on'which there is also journalled a frame`362 provided with pins carrying lower and upper pinions 344 and 346, which mesh with eachother andthrough an intermediate pinion with the ratchet Wheel 342. The pinion`344 is adapted at proper times to mesh with agear 348 while the pinion 346 is adapted to mesh with a gear `350. These gears respectively carry the inked ribbon carriers352 and 354, which support conventionalspools of typewriter ribbon passing over a spring member 356 to maintain tension and about aguide roller 358 across the faces-of the type elements carried by 'member 298. Additionally, they extend across the type elements 'on slugs 350 which may,'for example, carry dating characters or other informationsuch, for example; as the name of a-theateror the like.

The frame 362 has a tail portion 364 projecting laterally and adapted to be alternately engaged by the notched ends of levers366 and 368 journalled on fixed pins. Within openings in'these levers there project the turned ends 310 and 312 ofpivoted feeler blades 314 and'^316 bearing upon the reels 'of inked ribbon.

The mechanism last referred to is forv the purpose of feeding theribbon and reversing the direction yof feed at proper times. The feeding is accomplished by the action offpawl 338, retrograde movement being prevented by the ldetent 34|, the feeding taking place whenever the-1ever 326 moves rearwardly in'an issuingoperation. The feelers 314 and 316 serve in a'fashion which will be obvious to shift the frame 362 to cause either pinion 344 or pinion 346 to drive the inked ribbon.

Theprinting unit is made readily removable and replaceable in the machine. lThis end is accomplished by providing it With a'notch'380 engageable with a pin 382 in the machine frame and by providing it additionally with a pin 384 engageable in a notch v386 in the machine frame. The latter notch is so arranged vas to take the force of Aprinting applied by the platen 282 without disturbing the printing unit. To facilitate removal 'of the unit, Vit may beprovided with ya member '388 pivot'ed on a transverse pin landliftable by the nger of anoperator to serve as a handle for removing the unit The type of ticket to be issued by the unit is illustrated in Figure v16, at T. The strip S fed intov the machine is provided-with central` openings illustrated in the ticket at A and provided downA its' center line' with perforations; indicated at B. The ticket strip is not provided'with'the usual transverse Weakened'orV perforated lines, but-is=,'in fact, preferably ofstock which cannot be readily torn along 'a Well dened transverse line. The strip is preprinted,for example, with the name' of the theater, the price yand with-serial numbers, indicated atA N. Each ticket issued may comprise one to vesub-tickets. For example, in Figure v16 the ticket T Icomprises four subtickets on the uppermost one `of which the-machine prints the date indicated at D 'and on each of the next three the number "54 indicatedat E. Theticket isdesigned to be used in carrying ont a checking and accounting system, which need'not be describedlherein. It will'sui'ce vto state'that theV ticketissued bythe machine'is presented'to the ticket-taker, who will tear 'it lengthwise along the line of' perforati'ons B; presenting the left hand portion, as illustratedin Figure 16, to the customer and depositing the lright vhand 'portion containing the date-D vand the members E'in`theiusualreceptacle. If the ticket contains but a single sub-ticket, that Will have'the date printed thereon. On thevother hand, if the ticket contains more than one subticket, the whole number of fsub-tickets'will be printed on each sub-ticket subsequent t'o the first. Examination of the 'stubs and their use in special fashions-serves asa check onvari'ous factors and facilitates accounting. The :present invention is not concernedwith the forrnof ticket, but solely with vthe fashion in which theticket of thistype is produced and issued,

Theo'peration of the improved mechanism may now be described. In all of the figures of the drawings, the parts are shown in their initial rest positions, immediately prior to the initiation of a ticket printing and issuing operation. As was explained heretofore, the complete ticket machine will generally comprise a series of units such as that illustrated, and in such case the ears 18 of the plates 16 of the successive units will overlap, the last of these serving to control the closing of a master switch which will energize the common driving motor for the entire set of units. Also explained above, beneath the gear |12 of each of the units is a pinion |65 carried by a common transverse shaft |61. Initially, however, the pinions do not mesh with anything, because the segments |66 of all of the units are withdrawn upwardly out of meshing position.

It will be evident from the operations hereafter described that two or more units of the machine may be simultaneously operating without interference with each other.

The locking lever 36 will be in the positionv illustrated in Figure 4 to maintain the plate 36 in its rearmost position, so that the key control elements will be operative. The ticket strip S will be located in the unit holding outwardly the lever 96 and accordingly removing the arresting arm 88 from an interfering position with respect to the depending arm 86. The ticket strip will be located with its upper end which will pass through one of the openings A, directly at the position of meeting of the knife blades 266 and 264.

The operation of the machine is initiated by depression of any one of the keys 6. It will be assumed that there is depressed the key which will effect the issue of four sub-tickets, i. e., of the ticket of Figure 16.

As the key moves downwardly, it will carry with it through the medium of its pin I8 a lever 26, which will, in turn, engage the free end 58 of the corresponding lever 48, moving slightly rearwardly to effect this result as the sloping edge 41 moves down the corresponding step of the plate 36. As the lever 48 rocks, its notch 54 will release the corresponding lever 68, the cam follower portion |68 of which will drop against the surface of its corresponding cam llll. At the same time, its end |24 will move slightly upwardly into the path of the corresponding step |36 of the yoke |28. As the lever i8 rocks, it will also rock the yoke 62, causing detent 66 to release lever 16, which is urged in a counterclockwise direction by the strong spring 84. As the lever 16 rocks, its end 13 depresses plate 16, thereby, directly or through intermediate units, closing the motor-energizing switch of the machine. At the same time, through link 82 the member |56 is rocked releasing the pin |62 on the segment |64 to permit it to drop into mesh with the pinion |65 directly beneath it. All of the parts are thereby set up for the beginning of the issuing operation,

As the rotation of the gear |12 begins, the rise of the cam |18 will rock the lever |82 against the tension of spring |64 to engage the tail of the plate 1d, thereby effecting the holding down of this plate in addition to that resulting from the lever 18. As will be evident hereafter, this action of lever |32 serves to maintain the switch closed and the driving motor energized until the end of the cycle of operation, despite the fact that the lever 16 must be restored to its initial position well prior to the end of the cycle.

Through the train of gearing the feed disc 288 will immediately start to rotate. However, it cannot feed the ticket strip because, at this time, the movement of the lever 66 will not have been sucient to press the feed disc |66 against the ticket strip to pinch it for the feeding operation.

In the very early part of the operation, the roller 256 on the disc 246 will engage the arm 255i of the knife controlling lever 256 to withdraw the movable blade from the end of the ticket guide, so that when feeding @takes place, the ticket strip may move freely outwardly.

Very shortly after the beginning of the cycle, the cam |22 will clear the arm |36 so that the yoke |28 may rock in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 4. The movement of the yoke under the action of the spring 3M of the printing unit will take place to the extent determined by engagement of one of its steps with the end |24 of the lever 56, which has been rocked. As a result, the arm 326 of the printing unit, which is connected to the rack 326, is permitted to move some predetermined distance which will, in the present case, be sufficient to move the three ls of the member 298 into printing position behind the inked ribbon. As this movement takes place, the pin 33D will be released by arm 326 serving accordingly to rock shaft 334 to retract pawl 336. Later in the cycle of o-peration -this action is reversed, and consequently the pawl 338 will impart a step to the inked ribbon to advance it. The advancing steps, as will be evident, will be of diiTerent lengths, depending on the number of sub-tickets issued, but since all that is required is movement of the ribbon, the extent in each operation being immaterial, no fine adjustments of this mechanism for length of feed are necessary.

The printing member 298 having been set up, as just described, the printing action may occur. This is effected by the action of cam 266 on follower roller 261 to press the platen 232 against the ticket strip forcing it against the inked ribbon backed up by the ticket including, of

i course, the dating or other slugs indicated at 366. Accordingly, in the present instance, the portion of the ticket strip which will form the rst sub-ticket is impressed with the date, while the next three sub-tickets will be impressed with the number 4. As will be evident from the shape of the cam 266, the platen is substantially immediately released under the action of the spring 214. Feeding of the ticket strip may accordingly commence.

Feeding begins when the follower portion |68 of the actuated lever 66 drops off the end of its corresponding cam ||6. In the present instance,

in the issue of four sub-tickets, the cam with' which the actuated lever 66 will be engaged will be the second in order of increasing length. When such dropping off of the follower portion |68 occurs, the lever 66 will move suciently under the action of its strong spring |66 to rock the feed disc |56 into tight pinching engagement with the ticket against the action of its weaker retracting spring |46. 'Ihe ticket strip will, therefore, begin its movement.

Just prior to this event, the cam 2|2 will have engaged roller 2|6 on lever 2|6, thereby effecting the retraction of roller 264 from the notch of the star wheel |92. As a result, the pinwheel |88 is free to move with the ticket strip and will, in turn, rotate the gear 260 of the counter 262 to cause it to record the number of sub-tickets issued.

The feed of the ticketstrip continues until vthe follower |08 of the actuated lever 60 rides up the rise H6 of its cam H0, thereby releasing the disc |50 from its engagement with the strip. The total feeding movement imparted4 to the ticket strip is desirably slightly in excess of the amount necessary to bring the proper cutting linein alignment with the knives. As soon as the feeding action ends, the roller 2|6 is released by the cam 2|2 to permit the roller 204 to drop into the notch of the star wheel |92, then presented to it. It will bey evident that-a camming action of the roller on theteeth ofthe star wheel can occur, and this serves tok move slightly in a forward or rearward direction the. star wheel so asto adjust the ticket strip to align a proper portion thereof, preferably one of the openings A, with the knives. The blade IBI does not interfere with this action, being suitably located with respect to the pins. Its function is solely to prevent retrograde rotation of the pi-nwheel which might result in the 4ticket strips` dropping out of the guide after the star wheel is released by the roller 204.

It will be evidentthat the adjustment afforded by the screw 234 -thusinsures accurate alignmentof the ticket strip with the knives. Slight non-uniformities of manufacture makeit desirable to provide this adjustment, though when once set no further adjustment is generally necessary. The adjustment is ofcourse, essentially that of the lever 206 about the pivot 208.

By the above opera-tionsthe ticket strip will have beenbrought into posi-tion for cutting. The cutting action is effected by engagement of the roller 248 with-the arm 252 of the knife lever 256. The ticketis thereby delivered to the patron through the usual slot in thetop plate of ythe machine.

Inthe meanwhile, the parts which have been displaced are being brought backto their initial positions. Arm |36V ofthe yoke |28 will be rocked-by cam |20 to effect the restoration of the yoke and with it of the lever 326 and-the printing element` 298, which will be returned slightly beyond the printing position for the 5s. The feeding of the inked ribbon takes place in this action. Near the end of-thev cycle of operation, the cam |00'wi1l. engagev the arm 98 of the yoke 62. Accordingly, the lever 48, which was rocked, will be forcibly moved to its original position, the cam 56 acting upon the end 58 of the displaced-lever 60 to move. it outwardly to a position to engage within -thenotch 54. As the yoke 62 rocks, the portion 66l will' moveV in front of the edge 68l of the lever 10,- which, just prior to thisv time, will have been rocked rearwardly by the action of cam |76 on the upper arm of the double-armed lever |56. While this motion of the lever 'l0 will release the switch controlling plate 14, the switch will remain closed due to the action ofthe lever |82.

The positioning of |56 by-cam |16 results in bringing the hook |60 linto the path of pin |62 of the segment |64 where `it remains when cam |16- clears arm |714 because of engagement of 10 with detent 66. As the pin |62l is thus arrested, theA segment |64 is released from mesh with the driving pinion, and' Iaccordingly the operating parts of the unit stop. Just as the gear |12 reaches itsnal position, the lever |82 drops off the cam' |18, thereby releasing they switch plate 14 to permit the switch' to open.

The restoration of the keys may have taken place by their release immediately afterthe operation of .the machinev began. However, .even if they-were continuously held down,l the machine: would not operate through another cycle. This result is due` to the fact that immediately after the levers 20 yare lowered suciently tov initiate -action of the machinev by releasing lever 10 and one of the levers 60, their upper ends 24 ywill engage steps 26, swinging them forwardlyv to disengage their shoulders 46 from lever ends 50. Accordingly, further and quite unavoidable depression of any one of the keys will result in the swinging ofthe shoulder 45 into such position as not to be engageable byV a'lever 48when the latter is restored to its initial. position. Subsequent operation of the machine cannot, therefore, occur until the key is released. and subsequently depressed.

InV the event-of simultaneous depression of two keys, it will be evident thataticket will be issued corresponding to the key of maximum value that is depressed. In the case of such accidental operation, the proper numbering will', nevertheless, take place, since the printing element 2981's released from a, position corresponding approximately to the printing. of the highest number. Thus there is insured4 a proper numbering of every sub-ticket of the strip, irrespective ofin'- tentional or unintentional faulty operation. by the operator.

Locking of the machine is simply effected by the use of the lever 36, which is so rocked-as to move the plate 30 forwardly. By this action, the steps of the plate are caused to rock the levers 20 to such position that upon theirl depression they willfail to engage-the. levers `48. If after such locking any key is depressed, the result will be the latching down of such depressedkey by engagement of its shoulder 3l-beneath theV corresponding step 32 of plate 30.. This is desirable not only to indicate that-the machine is in locked condition, but to prevent tampering with the keys.

In the event the ticket strip runs out.- the unit is immediately locked by themovement of arm 88 into the path of the arm 86Y of the yoke 62. The lever 92 enga-ges the ticket strip sufficientlybelowthe knives to insure that there is always sufficient present to permit the issue of the maximum number of tickets.

In the issue of a ticket containing any different number of sub-tickets, the actionis essentially the same. In case only one sub-ticket isissued, however, the yoke |28 is not arrested by any of the levers |24-, and accordingly may move until the pin |34 strikes the end of the slot through which it passes in the plate 6. This movement is sucientto cause the printing element 298 to move beyond the printing position of the 2.. Accordingly, the sole printing that takes place is that due to the slugs 360.

What I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for'feeding the ticket strip variable distancesv along said guiding means to issue portions thereof, means controlling-said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, and means for marking on a, portion of said strip to be issued datavarying with the extent of feed in a cycle, said controlling means comprising a plurality ofk selectively positioned members, the positions ofwhich determine the extent of feed, and said marking means comprising an element, a spring urging said element in one direction, means normally preventing movement of said element under the action of said spring, and means effecting release of the element by the last mentioned means during the beginning of a cycle of operation, prior to occurrence of strip feed, for movement to an extent determined by arrest of the movement by a selectively positioned one of said members, thereby to determine the data marked on the strip.

2. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means to issue portions thereof, means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, and means for marking on a portion of said strip to be issued data varying with the extent of feed in a cycle, said controlling means including a plurality of keys and connections to said feeding means constructed and arranged to cause the feeding means to advance the greater distance determined by two keys accidentally simultaneously actuated, and connections between said keys and said marking means to cause the latter to mark on the strip prior to feed thereof `a marking corresponding to said advance through the greater distance when two keys are so simultaneously actuated.

3. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means, to issue portions thereof, means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, and means for marking on a portion of said strip to be issued data varying with the extent of feed in a cycle, said marking means comprising a member having a printing surface, means for moving said member in accordance with the extent of feed, means for feeding a ribbon over the printing surface, and means interconnecting the two last means to effect feed of the ribbon through movements resulting from the operation of the first of said two means.

4. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means to issue portions thereof, means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, and means for marking on a portion of said strip to be issued data varying with the extent of feed in a cycle, said controlling means comprising a plurality of selectively positioned members, the positions of which determine the extent of feed, and said marking means comprising an element, a spring urging said element in one direction, means normally preventing movement of said element under the action of said spring, and means effecting release of the element by the last mentioned means for movement to an extent determined by arrest of the movement by a selectively positioned one of said members, thereby to determine the data marked on the strip.

5. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means, means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, and means for marking on a portion of said strip to be issued data varying with the extent of feed in a cycle, said controlling means comprising a plurality of selectively positioned members, the positions of which determine the extent of feed, and said marking means comprising an element normally located in an initial position, and means for moving said element during the beginning of a cycle of operation, subsequently to the selective positioning of one of said members but prior to occurrence of strip feed, from said initial position to an extent limited by arrest of the movement by the selectively positioned one of said members, thereby to determine the data marked on the strip.

6. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means, means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, and means for marking on a portion of said strip to be issued data varying with the extent of feed in a cycle, said controlling means comprising a plurality of selectively positioned members, the positions of which determine the extent of feed, and said marking means comprising an element normally located in an initial position, and means for moving said element during a cycle of operation from said initial position to an extent limited by arrest of the movement by the selectively positioned one of said members, thereby to determine the data marked on the strip.

'7. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means, means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, and means for marking on a portion of said strip to be issued data varying with the extent of feed in a cycle, said controlling means comprising a plurality of selectively positioned members, the positions of which determine the extent of feed, and said marking means comprising an element and means for moving said element during a cycle of operation to an extent limited by arrest of the movement by the selectively positioned one of said members, thereby to determine the data marked on the strip.

8. A ticket issuing machine comprising means for guiding a ticket strip, means for feeding the ticket strip variable distances along said guiding means, means controlling said feeding means to determine the extent of feed, and means for marking on a portion of said strip to be issued data varying with the extent of feed in a cycle, said controlling means comprising a plurality of selectively positioned members, the positions of which determine the extent of feed, and said marking means comprising an element and means for moving said element during the beginning of a cycle of operation, subsequently to the selective positioning of one of said members but prior to occurrence of strip feed, to an extent limited by arrest of the movement by the selectively positioned one of said members, thereby to determine the data marked on the strip.

REU'BEN I-I. HELSEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,734,069 Barrett Nov. 5, 1929 2,169,213 Backdahl Aug. 15, 1939 2,290,871 Freedman July 28, 1942 2,361,392 Freedman Oct. 31, 1944 

